Torpedo signaling machine



O. A. WELLER. TORPEDO SIGNALING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

No.501,1'75. Patented July 11, 1893 LII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER A. WELLER, OF SING SING, NEW YORK.

TORPEDO SIGNALING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,175, dated July 11, 1893.

Application filed March 19, 1892. Renewed December 10 1392. Serial No. 455,095. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, CHESTER A. WELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sing Sing, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Attachment for Torpedo Machines; and I declare the following specification to be afull,

clear, and accurate description thereof, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a class of torpedo placing and recovering machines or devices which deposit the torpedoes directly on the rail road track, and has for its object the protection of the torpedo from the weather. This object is attained by themeans set forth in the accompanying drawings.

Figure I represents a torpedo machine with a torpedo in place on the rail. Fig. II is a top view of the torpedo machine, uncovered, and showing the torpedo passing under a pro- ,tecting plate in being moved to the rail. Fig. III represents the protecting plate lying flush with the surface of the rail.

The torpedo machine shown in my illustrations is one for which I have an application for patent of the United States pending, and although I use it for the purpose of this representation, my present invention is applicable to any apparatus that deposits the torpedo on the rail.

The machine shown is adapted for recovering a torpedo if it remains unexploded, so that it is important it should not be returned to the magazine with Water or snow clinging to it. In order to afiord it protection I attach a steel plate over the path of the torpedo, extending from the machine, a, to the inner edge of the rail, d. Of course this plate may be hinged, so as to yield freely to the passage of the torpedo underneath it, or it may consist of simplya plate of elastic steel spring, which I use by preference and show it in my illustrations.

By reference to Fig. II it will be seen that the plate, 1'), is made to extend within the casing beyond the first pair of bolt holes that receive bolts to hold the coverin its place, so that when the'cover is secured the plate, I), will be firmly held between the cover a, and base a, Fig. I, the plate being at the top of the path of the torpedo, as shown in Fig. III, or the plate may be bolted upon the top of the cover in a manner so that it can be readily removed. Outside of the casing the plate is made to droop toward and lie flat on the rail, or, as in Fig. III, a notch may be cut in the rail to admit of the plate lying within it, and flush with the rails surface. In this form the plate is less liable to displacement or abrasion by the contact of car wheels when no torpedois underneath. The plate, I), is of course sufliciently elastic to admit of the torpedo.

passing under it.

Fig. I illustrates a torpedo c in place under the protecting plate, I). In Fig. II the torpedo carrier, f, is indicated as moving in the direction of the arrow, '41, and pushing the torpedo, 6, out under the plate, I).

. Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In combination with a torpedo apparatus as herein described, a torpedo protecting plate extending from above the path of the torpedo to, andlying upon the rail, substantially as herein described.

2. A protecting plate I) attached to a torpedo apparatus and lying in a. notch in the rail, substantially as and forthe purpose herein described.

3. The combination, in a device for setting and recovering torpedoes, of a torpedo apparatus a, torpedo protecting plate I), and the rail d, substantially as herein shown and de'-' scribed.

4. The combination, in a device for setting and recovering torpedoes, of a torpedo apparatus a, torpedo protecting plate b, and the rail (1 notched to receive the plate I) to the depth of its thickness, substantially as shown and described.

CHESTER A. WELLER.

Witnesses:

JOHN GIBNEY, ALONZO DRAPER. 

